בֵּית הַשִּׁטָּה
Beth-hash-Shittah, a place in Palestine
Definition
Beth-hash-Shittah is a proper noun referring to a specific location in ancient Palestine, mentioned only once in the Bible. The name means 'house of the acacia' or 'place of the acacia tree.' It is identified as a town or settlement in the Jordan Valley, likely named for the acacia trees (shittim wood) common to that arid region. In its sole biblical appearance in Judges 7:22, it serves as a geographical marker in the flight of the Midianite army after their defeat by Gideon.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Judges 7:22. It functions strictly as a place name within the narrative of Gideon's victory. The context is the chaotic retreat of the Midianite army from the hill of Moreh 'as far as Beth-hash-Shittah.' Its usage provides a specific, albeit now obscure, geographical anchor point for the extent of the Israelite pursuit following God's miraculous intervention.
Etymology
The name is a compound Hebrew phrase: בֵּית (bayith, H1004) meaning 'house' or 'place of,' combined with שִׁטָּה (shiṭṭâh, H7848), meaning 'acacia tree.' The definite article הַ (ha-) is interposed, yielding the precise meaning 'the house of the acacia.' It is a classic example of a Semitic place name derived from local flora, similar to many modern place names.
Semantic Range
While the place name itself is not theologically loaded, its context in Judges 7 is significant. It marks the limit of a divinely orchestrated victory where God deliberately reduced Gideon's army to demonstrate that salvation comes from the Lord, not human strength (Judges 7:2). Understanding the name's meaning ('house of the acacia') subtly connects this moment of victory to the acacia wood used in the Tabernacle (Exodus 25-27), perhaps hinting at God's presence and provision in both worship and warfare.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, place names were often descriptive of local geography or vegetation. Naming a location 'house of the acacia' immediately communicated its environment—likely a semi-arid area near the Jordan Valley where the durable acacia tree thrived. This practical naming convention helped travelers identify locations. The acacia (shittah) tree itself was culturally important as a source of the prized, insect-resistant shittim wood used in sacred construction.
No direct synonyms as a proper place name. Related terms include: שִׁטִּים (Shittim, H7851) — another place name meaning 'acacias,' located east of the Jordan (e.g., Numbers 25:1).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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